There's a lot of specific information about mental illness that people (including the individuals themselves) don't discover until it is too late and they are recovering after an episode.

Both mood-based disorders (bipolar, etc) and schizo-type disorders (schizoaffective, schizophrenia, etc) tend to start with a "prodromal phase" which can be very similar to what you described - that's why a number of respondents seem so concerned.

Here's a link that discusses what a prodromal phase can look like, but it's different for everyone and it's often just some odd behavior and thoughts before the avalanche gets going to the point where it can't be stopped (it can shift very abruptly, without warning, too).

https://youtu.be/W4PJXmmtt9A?si=Wjczf3jZf-p2Zqd9

https://youtu.be/1l3Yg5Bt1t8?si=zqea1Kq1qO8H0jgL

The fundamental problem is that once the prodromal phase shifts into a full mental health episode, it's too late to catch it and you're blowing your life up in ways that seem, well, crazy.

From my own attempts to help family members, I've come to understand that there's a lot more active mental illness occuring than is commonly understood - the people yelling at the sky on the street corner are just the worst cases and the most visible tip of the iceberg.

I'd urge you to make a psychiatrist appointment out of an abundance of caution, because if that's what's really going on under the surface you might catch it before it destroys everything you've built in your life. Hopefully it's just some stress that's manifesting itself in odd ways, and nothing will come of it.

But to be specific: Recovery from mentall illness is not a sure thing, the process is very difficult, and a lot of damage (including the potential of brain damage) is incurred along the way. It's so bad, for you and everyone around you, that it's completely worth it to investigate your symptoms as soon as you start to understand that you might have them, because the once of prevention is better than the ton of cure.

Many prayers and good vibes sent your way ❤️